Page 25 of Lunar Diamonds
“Riley?”
I tore my gaze from the moon, fixing my eyes on Drake.
“Wow,” I gasped in awe. The moonlight acted like a natural spotlight on him, taking his beauty and magnifying it to a million. Guys like him came along once in a, well, a blue moon. And that bright rock above us handed me a huge sign.
Don’t let this one go,it said.
But my instincts weren’t having it, an army of teeth chewing at my insides.
Don’t let this one get too close,their collective voices rebutted the moon.
Moon.
Sun.
Star.
A vibration in my veins, images of the blue orb from my nightmare. Hands on my throat, the air so cold.
Too cold.
I’m too cold.
I’m—
“Nothing like fresh air, is there?”
Drake’s voice yanked me out of my weird spiral, but my high came crashing down. I never should’ve left my flat. My duvet, ahot chocolate, and a cute movie would’ve been perfect. Better. Not this.
People died today, and I could’ve met the same bloody fate. How dare I come out to party? Screw chasing away the shadows. I should be crestfallen, crying into a pile of cookies.
I dipped my head. “I’m really sorry…” Ugh. Admitting defeat hurt.
Drake stepped closer. “About what?”
“I have to go home.”
No response.
“There was an incident at the library today.”
“I heard.”
My eyes remained on the ground. “Oh.”
“But you can’t go home.”
His tone changed. Colder, losing its luster.
I looked up. There was no smile on his face, everything about him suddenly unnerving, as if a veil lifted to reveal the real Drake.
Such cruel beauty…
Oh. Crap. My instincts had been correct. He’d been avoiding his drink to stay sharp so he could, what? Kidnap me? Murder me?
“You’re coming with me,” he said.
No warmth in that tone.
